November 6, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, November 6.
Yesterday, at First Baptist Center, we began our morning worship with the contemporary praise song, "Open Up the Heavens". It's one of my favorite "service starters", with its' upbeat tune, and lyrics focused vertically on God. Speaking of "vertically", this song was written by the Vertical Church Band out of Chicago that burst onto the contemporary worship scene in 2012. "Open up the Heavens" opens with these words, filled with expectation -
We've waited for this day, we're gathered in Your name, calling out to You.
And then comes the chorus with its' infectious musical "hook" and these heartfelt lyrics of prayer -
Open up the heavens, we want to see You. Open up the floodgates, a mighty river, flowing from Your heart, filling every part of our praise.
That last phrase, "filling every part of our praise", is inspired by Psalm 22:3 - You are holy, O Lord, and You inhabit the praise of your people.
So, God is not only with us when we gather in His name, He literally "lives" in our moments of worship. Think about that for a moment.
The first time the Vertical Band sang this song in a worship service they had only the verse and chorus. The words of the bridge section occurred spontaneously - inspired (breathed) by the Spirit.
Show us, show us Your glory. Show us, show us Your power. Show us, show us Your glory, Lord.
A great Sunday morning "starter." A great start to any day.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
